Brand did not move at first.
For a long moment after, he remained utterly still, struck as stone. His thoughts lay scattered beyond all recall. The world narrowed to the woman beneath him, struggling to breathe as he was.
Then, slowly—and almost reverently—he drifted back to earth. He pulled away from her, aware that he was still shaking. The loss of her warmth was immediate. It startled him.
Turning, he braced one hand against the headboard and drew himself to lean on it, pulling the sheet with him. His chest rose and fell, his lungs labouring for air. Outside, the sun shone brighter than he remembered.
He swallowed through the dryness in his throat.
He had just made love to Madelyn!
Good heavens! It was more than he had ever conceived; greater than his satisfying himself. He blinked harshly from the passion. His chest stirred with awe and… and something warm and strange.
It was pleasant.
